Latch and lock mechanism



p 1, 1965 w. o. MORAN 3,207,545

LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM Filed July 5, 1963 INVENTOR. WlL LIA M O. MORAN AZMQAM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,207,545 LATCH AND LOCK MECHANISM William O. Moran, Tulsa, Okla, assignor to Moran Furnace and Sheet Metal Company, Tulsa, Okla, a corporation of Oklahoma Filed July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 292,898 Claims. (Cl. 292-205) This invention relates to an improved lockable latching mechanism for looking a door or similar closure in its closed position. More specifically, this invention relates to an improved latching mechanism for a closure, such as a door, that is operable from either side of the door and that normally remains in this latched position.

It is common to use door-like structures to close access openings in enclosures of various sizes and types. The door-like closures are oftentimes provided with latching and/or locking mechanisms to allow them to be latched and locked to prevent trespass into the enclosures by unauthorized personnel.

Many of these latching and locking mechanisms are complicated in construction and relatively expensive to manufacture. Also, many of them provide a safety hazard in that they cannot be operated from the inside of the door. Therefore, should the door be accidentally closed and latched while an individual is inside the enclosure no means are provided for opening the door-like closure to allow escape from within the enclosure.

Furthermore, many of the latching mechanisms in common use today allow the closure to become latched automatically when it swings into the closed position. This, of course, increases the safety hazards of such latching mechanisms.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved lockable latching mechanism that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior known closure latching mechanisms.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved lockable latching mechanism for locking a door or similar closure in its closed position.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved lockable latching mechanism that is relatively simple in construction, easily operable, and that is usable on practically any door-like enclosure.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved lockable latching mechanism that is provided with built-in safety features that prevent an individual from becoming accidentally locked within the enclosure by the accidental closing and latching of the door provided with this latching mechanism.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved lockable latching mechanism that has two handles, one extending interiorly and the other extending exteriorly of the door to which the locking mechanism is attached to allow operation of the latching mechanism from either side of the door.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an improved lockable latching mechanism that is normally urged into its closed or latched position in which position the door cannot be accidentally closed and latched.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved lockable latching mechanism having two operating handles, extending one on each side of the door-like closure, the handles being constantly urged into their closed or latched position to prevent accidental closing and latching of the door.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an improved lockable latching mechanism that is provided with means for locking the latching mechanism in its latched position.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the lockable latching mechanism of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the latching mechanism of FIGURE 1 taken along line 22.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lockable latching mechanism of FIGURE 1 taken along line 33.

General description The latching mechanism of this invention consists of a flat facer plate attached to the outside surface of a door, along one peripheral edge portion thereof and a handle member rotatably extending through the upper middle of the facer plate, the handle member consisting of an internal handle portion, a middle handle portion and an external handle portion. The internal handle portion is substantially L-shaped with one leg extending into interference relation with the door frame adjacent the locking mechanism when the mechanism is in its latched position and the other leg extending at all times inwardly, perpendicular to the door and facer plate, to be used as a handle for unlatching the mechanism from the inside. The external handle portion extends parallel to the facer plate from the middle handle portion and terminates in a closed circularloop. A plate-like stop member extends perpendicularly forwardly of the facer plate, near the bottom thereof. The stop member is provided with a passage therethrough, perpendicular thereto. When the latching mechanism is in the latched position the circular loop on the end of the external handle portion lies adjacent to one side of the stop member. Therefore, a conventional locking mechanism can be passed through the registering passage through the stop member and the circular loop to lock the mechanism in the latched position.

Specific description The closure structure on which the latching mechanism of this invention is to be used is preferably of the conventional door type. The closure is preferably provided along one edge with one or more hinges for hingeably attaching the door to the door frame opening for pivotal rotation of the door about that edge to open and close the door.

Referring now to the figures in general, the latching mechanism 10 of this invention consists of a facer plate 12 having a handle member 14. The facer plate 12 of the latching mechanism 10 is attached to the frontal exterior surface 16 of the closure member 18, hereinafter referred to as door 18. The facer plate 12 is attached to the door 18 along the peripheral edge portion thereof 0pposite the edge provided with the hinges (not shown) by a plurality of screws, bolts, or similar connecting means 21) that extend through registering perforations 22 and 24 in the facer plate 12 and door 18, respectively.

A stop member 26 extends perpendicularly forwardly from the bottom portion of facer plate 12, slightly offset to the right from the vertical center line of facer plate 12. Stop member 26 is substantially rectangular shaped with its plane extending vertically at right angles to the vertical plane of facer plate 12. Stop member 26 is attached to the facer plate 12 by rivets, spot welding, or any'similar means for attaching two metallic pieces. Stop member 26 is provided with a bore 28 extending through the middle thereof, the axis of the bore lying at right angles to the plane of the stop member 26. The purpose of bore 28 will be more fully described hereinafter.

As is best seen in FIGURE 3, a substantially U-shaped bracket is attached to the middle of the upper portion of side surface 32 of facer plate 12 adjacent to the door 18. The plate-like legs 34 and 36 of bracket 30 are attached to facer plate 12 and extend through a substantially rectangular shaped opening 38 in the door 18 with the plate-like bight, portion 40 of bracket 30 located internally of the door 18.

The handle member 14 is an elongated relatively small diameter solid metallic tube that is bent or otherwise shaped into an external handle portion 42 and an internal handle portion 44 with a middle portion 46 extending therebetween. a

The external handle portion 42 consists of an elongated section of tubing 48 extending from the external extremity 50 of middle portion 46, at right angles thereto, and provided at its free end 52 with an inwardly turned closed circular loop 54.

- When the latching mechanism is in its latched position, external handle portion 42extends vertically downwardly from the middle handle portion 46 with the loop 54 in contact with one side of stop member 26. While in this position the circular passage 56 formed by loop 54 registers with the circular bore 28 of stop member 26.

Again referring to FIGURE 3, the internal handle portion 44 of handle member 14 consists of a substantially L-shaped extension from the internal end 58 of the middle handle portion 46. The L-shaped extension includes a first leg 60, the axis of which intersects the axis of the middle handle portion 46 at right angles and is 90 removed from parallel with the axis of the front handle portion 42, and a second leg 62 intersecting the first leg at right angles thereto with the axis of second leg 62 extending parallel to .the axis of the middle handle portion 46.

Therefore, when the latching mechanism is in its latched position with the external handle portion 42 extending vertically downwardly from the middle handle portion 46, leg 60 of the internal handle portion 44 will extend horizontally to the right of the middle handle portion 46 to overlap the edge 64 of the door frame adjacent the latching mechanism 10. When in this position the second leg 62 of the internal handle portion 44 extends horizontally inwardly into the interior of the enclosure, at right angles to the plane of the door.

The middle portion 46 of the handle member 14 extends through registering bores 66 and 68 in facer plate 12 and the bight portion 40 of bracket 30, respectively. A plurality of outwardly radially upset bosses 70 are provided near the middle of middle handle portion 46 and are located within the U-shaped bracket 30. Bosses 70 have a longitudinal length only slightly shorter than the length of the legs 34 and 36 of bracket 30. Therefore, bosses 70 function as stop members to prevent axial movement of the middle handle portion 46 f the handle member 14 within the respective bores 66 and 68. However, bosses 70 do not adversely affect in any way the rotatability of the handle member 14 about the axis of the middle handle portion 46 thereof.

The latching mechanism 10 as shown in the drawings is in its latched position with the internal handle portion 44 overlapping the edge 64 of the door rfame adjacent the edge of the door 18 to which the latching mechanism has been attached. It is this interference overlapping of internal handle portion 44 with respect to the door frame that latches the door in its closed position.

As above described, when the latching mechanism 10 is in its latched position external handle portion 42 extends downwardly with circular loop'54 lying adjacent to stop member 26. It should be understood that any locking mechanism such as a conventional lock can be passed through the registering circular passage 56 and circular bore 28 to effectively lock the external handle portion 42 to the stop member 26, thereby locking the latching mechanism 10 in its latched position.

It should be noted that should the latching mechanism either accidentally or intentionally become latched while an individual is inside the enclosure 72 internal handle portion 44 provides a means for unlatching the latching mechanism to allow escape from the enclosure. The second leg portion 62 can be grasped and a downwardly directed circular motion applied thereto to rotate the internal handle portion out of interference overlap with the edge 64 to allow the door to be opened and escape of the individual entrapped within enclosure 72.

Since the external handle portion 42 is larger than the internal handle portion 44, portion 42 will tend to gravitate into its vertically downwardly depending position as shown in the figures, this position being the latched position. To unlatch the latching mechanism from the outside the external handle portion 42 must be grasped and a force applied thereto to the left to pivot handle portion 42 about the axis of the middle handle portion 46, thereby pivoting the internal handle portion 44 downwardly out of interference contact with the edge 64 of the door frame. After the door has been swung into its open position and the external handle portion 42 released, handle portion 42, by its own weight, will pivot downwardly until loop portion 54 contacts the stop member 26. While in this position, the latched position, the door cannot he accidentally closed since the internal handle portion extends horizontally into interference relation with the front surface of the edge 64 of the door frame.

Although this latching mechanism has been described with reference to its use on hinged doors, it is contemplated that the latching mechanism can be used on any type of closure in which the closure structure is moved in any direction other than parallel to the plane of the opening frame surrounding the closure structure.

As above described and as illustrated in the drawings the latching mechanism of this invention incorporates therein certain desirable safety characteristics, one of which is the provision of an interference part (the internal handle portion 44:) that prevents accidental closing and latching of the door after it has been opened. Another safety characteristic of this latching mechanism is the-internal handle portion 44 that is operable from inside the closure to unlatch the latching mechanism 10 should it accidentally become latched thereby trapping an individual inside the enclosure 72.

Of course it should be understood that it may be desirable at times to latch door 18 from the inside. At such times this can be done by simply holding the internal handle portion 44" out of interference relation with the door frame 64 after entering the enclosure. The door is then closed and the handle portion 44 allowed to rotate into the latched position as above described. Internal handle portion 44 makes possible the subsequent escape from within the enclosure.

The invention has been described by reference to specific and preferred embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, this invention should be construed not to be limited to the embodiments herein described, but should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

-1. A latching mechanism for latching a hinged closure structure in its closed position with respect to an opening frame provided therefonsaid mechanism comprising in combination:

a substantially flat facer plate having a front side and a back side, said facer plate attached to said closure structure adjacent that edge opposite said hinged portion thereof;

a bore extending through said facer plate and said structure at right angles thereto;

a flat plate-like stop member attached to said facer plate at a point below said bore in said plate, and

extending substantially perpendicular forwardly from said facer plate;

a unitary handle member shaped to form a middle shaft portion, an external handle portion and an internal latching portion;

said middle shaft portion rotatably extending through said bore in said facer plate, at right angles to said facer plate;

said external handle portion extending at right angles downwardly from said middle portion and located forwardly of said facer plate, and provided at its free end with a closed circular loop, said loop contacting one side of said stop member when said external handle portion is in the latched position;

said internal latching portion consisting of a first leg extending at right angles to said middle portion and a second leg extending at right angles to said first leg and facer plate, said first leg being movable into interference relation with the portion of said opening frame adjacent said latching mechanism for latching said closure structure in its closed position; and

means associated with said handle member to prevent movement of said handle member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said facer plate.

2. A latching mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said stop member is provided with a circular passage extending therethrough, at right angles thereto, whereby a locking means can be passed through said circular loop and said circular passage to lock said latching mechanism in the latched position.

3. A latching mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said means to prevent movement of said handle member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said facer plate consists of,

a substantially U-shaped bracket, the two legs of which are attached at their free ends to the back side of said facer plate, the point of attachment of each leg spaced slightly radially outwardly from diametrically opposite points on the periphery of said bore through said facer plate, with the bight portion of said bracket extending rearwardly through an opening in said closure member; passage through the bight portion of said bracket, coaxial with said bore through said facer plate and substantially equal in diameter to said bore whereby said middle shaft portion extends through both said bore and said passage; at least one externally upset boss member provided on said middle shaft portion, located between the bight portion of said bracket and the back side of said facer plate, the effective diameter of said middle shaft portion and said at least one boss being larger than the diameter of said bore and said passage through said bight portion whereby said middle shaft portion is prevented from moving laterally within said bore and said passage.

4. A lockable latching mechanism for latching an upright door, that is pivotally attached along one edge to a surrounding frame, in its closed position within said frame, said mechanism comprised of in combination,

a substantially flat face plate having a front side and a back side, said facer plate attached to said door along the peripheral edge portion thereof opposite said edge that is attached to said frame with said back side adjacent to the surface of said door; bore extending perpendicularly through the middle of the upper portion of said facer plate;

fiat plate-like stop member attached to the bottom portion of said facer plate, at a point slightly offset from the vertical center line of said plate, and extending forwardly of said plate at right angles thereto;

a substantially U-shaped bracket, the two legs of which are attached at their free ends to the back side of said facer plate, adjacent two diametrically opposite points on the periphery of said bore through said facer plate, with the bight portion of said bracket extending rearwardly of said facer plate, through an opening in said door;

a passage through said bight portion, equal in diameter and coaxial with said bore through said facer plate; an elongated handle member having a circular crosssection and shaped to form a middle handle portion, an external handle portion and an internal handle portion;

said middle handle portion rotatably extending through said bore in said facer plate and said passage in said bight portion, and provided with at least one radially upset boss located between said bight portion and said facer plate to prevent longitudinal movement of said middle handle portion;

said external handle portion consisting of a substantially straight section extending at right angles to said middle portion and provided on its free end with a closed circular loop, said loop contacting one side of said stop member when said external handle portion is in the latched position whereby said loop registers with said bore through said stop member to allow passage therethrough of a locking means;

said internal handle portion being L-shaped and consisting of a first leg extending at right angles to said middle portion and removed from parallel with said external handle portion, and a second leg extending at right angles to said first leg and said facer plate, said internal handle portion being pivotally movable about the axis of said middle handle portion into and out of interference relation with the portion of said door frame adjacent said latching mechanism.

5. A lockable latching mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said external handle portion is heavier than said internal handle portion and is normally urged by gravity into its vertically depending latched position with said internal handle portion extending substantially horizontally into interference contact with the edge portion of said door frame adjacent said latching mechanism.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,144,576 6/ 15 Wilson 292202 1,520,180 12/24 England 292-202 2,3 34,426 11/43 McCulloch 292-238 2,686,062 8/54 Schatzman 292-202 X FOREIGN PATENTS 10,353 12/07 Denmark. 292,348 6/ 16 Germany. 176,016 7/61 Sweden.

M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner, 

1. A LATCHING MECHANISM FOR LATCHING A HINGED CLOSURE STRUCTURE IN ITS CLOSED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO AN OPENING FRAME PROVIDED THEREFOR, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT FACER PLATE HAVING A FRONT SIDE AND A BACK SIDE, SAID FACER PLATE ATTACHED TO SAID CLOSURE STRUCTURE ADJACENT THAT EDGE OPPOSITE SAID HINGED PORTION THEREOF; A BORE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID FACER PLATE AND SAID STRUCTURE AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO; A FLAT PLATE-LIKE STOP MEMBER ATTACHED TO SAID FACER PLATE AT A POINT BELOW SAID BORE IN SAID PLATE, AND EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR FORWARDLY FROM SAID FACE PLATE; A UNITARY HANDLE MEMBER SHAPED TO FORM A MIDDLE SHAFT PORTION, AN EXTERNAL HANDLE PORTION AND AN INTERNAL LATCHING PORTION; SAID MIDDLE SHAFT PORTION ROTATABLY EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BORE IN SAID FACER PLATE, AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID FACER PLATE; SAID EXTERNAL HANDLE PORTION EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID MIDDLE PORTION AND LOCATED FORWARDLY OF SAID FACER PLATE, AND PROVIDED AT ITS FREE END WITH A CLOSED CIRCULAR LOOP, SAID LOOP CONTACTING ONE SIDE OF SAID STOP MEMBER WHEN SAID EXTERNAL HANDLE PORTION IS IN THE LATCHED POSITION; SAID INTERNAL LATCHING PORTION CONSISTING OF A FIRST LEG EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID MIDDLE PORTION AND A SECOND LEG EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID FIRST LEG AND FACER PLATE, SAID FIRST LEG BEING MOVABLE INTO INTERFERENCE RELATION WITH THE PORTION OF SAID OPENING FRAME ADJACENT SAID LATCHING MECHANISM FOR LATCHING SAID CLOSURE STRUCTURE IN ITS CLOSED POSITION; AND MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID HANDLE MEMBER TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER IN A DIRECTION PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF SAID FACER PLATE. 